Banana Boat Bars GF

It's the month of May that can really test a person's time management.  As the school year winds down every concert, rehearsal, talent show, presentation, final exams, awards and recitals fit into each and every school night in addition to the regular list of nightly activities. This year, we are also including graduation of my eldest daughter from High School.  (Extremely proud of her.  She has done amazing.)  Planting needs to be done for summer vegetable and flower hopefuls. And then, just to mock me year after year, let's toss Mother's Day into May.  Now, I feel special.  OK, so a little cynical when really all are very good things and truly my real gripe is just the time issue.  I need more time in an hour, more time in a day! . 

Feeling a little nostalgic today, thinking on simpler, not better mind you, but simpler times.  Times when it was my mother's time management that was tested and I just breezed along.  Times when I would come home after school, riding, or activities and be able to grab a snack.  My sister, ever the sensible eater, nabbed an apple but I would go for the cookie jar or cookie bars.  Banana bars were one of my favs!  Feeling like May 20 is a banana bar kind of day~

DAY-O
Oh, come, Mister Tallyman, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home
Me say come, Mister  Tallyman, tally me banana
Daylight come and me wan' go home

Banana Bars GF

Ingredients and How to:

Oven to 325.  Spray or butter or oil a 9x13 pan.

1 1/4 cups GF flour
1/2 cup almond flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
 *mix above ingredients together into a bowl and set aside.

In an electric mixing bowl:
1/2 cup butter softened
2/3 cup honey
1 banana  - I don't wait for them to turn brown and mushy.  just a ripe banana.  Mash it in advance or cut into pieces into the bowl -
*Mix above ingredients until smooth
Add:
1/3 cup almond milk or any milk
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
and two eggs.

Mix in dry ingredients.  Pour batter into prepared pan.  Bake for 25- 30 minutes.

Without much thought I find myself warbling the Harry Belafonte classic "Day-O," otherwise known as the "Banana Boat Song."  Some interesting tid-bits to this song:

The "Banana Boat Song" is a traditional Jamaican song sung by dock workers loading bananas into ships through the night.  It's day light and they wait for the tally man to count so they can go home.  While this song may have been sung by the dock workers, it was adapted and first sung and recorded by the Carribeans as "Day De Light" in 1952. 

In 1956, Folk singer Bob Gibson taught the song to the then folk trio known as The Tarriers.

The Tarriers, Erik Darling, Bob Carey and Alan Arkin, recorded the song and became the first Folk trio to have a song on the Billboard charts.  This group has been considered ahead of its time and while they paved the way for the Kingston Trio and other Folk artists, their own success in the music recording industry was not lasting.  However, the "Calypso craze" movement in America was begun.  Now, the Tarriers themselves, individually, moved on to have other successful careers.  Alan Arkin made his Broadway debut in 1958 and has gone on to be an actor, director, and producer.

Personally, I liked him in the movie In Laws co-starring Peter Falk.

Back to the Banana Boat! Calypso music, as I understand it, contains both African and French influences and there are some that note it may go back as far as medeival France?  Well, the "Banana Boat Song" didn't phase out but gathered momentum as it was picked up and recorded by Harry Belafonte.

Harry Belafonte recorded his version of the song, titled "Day-O" in 1956 and it became a core piece in his Calypso album.  Interesting things you may or may not know about Mr. Belafonte.  His parents were Carribean immigrants.  Always interested in Folk songs he collected and absorbed traditional Folk songs from around the world. He was a Civil Rights activist and knew Martin Luther King, Jr., calling him friend and was with him when King delivered his "I have a Dream" speech.  It was to Mr. Belafonte's credit that Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie wrote "We Are the World" for Belafonte and other artists to perform in 1985 raising money for Ethiopia.  The song earned millions.   Belafonte guest-starred on a Muppet Show and explained the "Banana Boat Song" and in 1988, it was Belafonte's version playing on the set of the movie, Beetlejuice. 

     Day-o  Day-o
     Work all night and drink a rum
     Stack banana 'til the mornin' come
     Come Mister Tallyman, tally me banana
     Daylight come and me wan' go home.

(ah, I know you're singing along!)

While Harry Belafonte's "Day-O" may be the most well known in this country, in the UK Dame Shirley Bassey, a Welsh singer, hit the charts with it in 1957.

 Her rendition offerred on her album, the bewitching Miss Bassey, followed the Tarriers with the blending of two Folk songs, "The Banana Boat Song" and "Hill and Gully Rider."

     Now I sleep by the sun an' I work by moon
     Day-li-light and I wan' go home, Hey!
     All a de workman sing this song
     Day-li-light and I wan' go home.

While her "Banana  Boat Song" was a success for her, charting in the UK #8, she is perhaps better known for other works to include her three James Bond theme songs.  Count 'em:
1. Goldfinger
2.Diamonds are Forever
3. Moonraker

Fabulous voice has the bewitching Miss Bassey. 

Banana Bars out of the oven and cooled -

Frosting ingredients and how to:
4 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 tablespoon butter
1/3 cup sifted powdered sugar
pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract   

Mix until smooth and spread onto bars. 

ENJOY! 

     Day!  Me say Day, me say Day, me say Day-O
     Daylight come and me wan' go home.